At least eight out of every 10 public secondary schools will have computers within the next five years. Launching a multi-million Information Communication Technology Trust Fund Education minister, George Saitoti said ICT was indispensable for rapid socioeconomic development in the country.

"ICT will be integrated in the curricular at all levels of our education and training system," he said.

The trust fund is an innitiative by private and public companies. The Standard Group is among the sponsors of the initiative. Group CEO, Mr Tom Mshindi described the venture as much overdue and pleaded for more support. "It is a noble idea and I hope more will join hands and help make it a success," Mshindi said.

Saitoti announced that Microsoft had established a state-of-the art computer refurbishment centre in Nairobi to serve the East and Central African region. The centre has the capacity to re-install programmes on 4,000 computers per month which would then subsequently be distributed to the schools.

Kenya Pipeline Company MD, Dr Shem Ochuodho said the project has Sh10 million as seed capital which is likely to grow to Sh100 million in the next few years. Microsoft East Africa Ltd representative, Mr George Muhia said the private sector was finding it expensive and time-consuming to train ICT-illiterate graduates from local universities.

The participating organisations include: Kenya Airports Authority, KRA, Kenya Airways, Barclays Bank, KPA, Telkom Kenya, CCK, Postal Corporation, Kenya National Shipping Line, Maersk (K) Ltd, Microsoft, (EA) Ltd, KenGen, Kenya Private Sector Alliance, The Network of Initiatives in Computers in Education among others. 

Source: Standard Correspondent